Jefferson County prosecutors Mark Pautler, right, and Bob Weiner, left, were in court Thursday morning to dismiss charges against Larry Manzanares who had been accused of stealing a Denver city laptop computer and tampering with evidence. Manzanares killed himself last Friday.

A judge dismissed all charges Thursday against the late Lawrence Manzanares during a brief hearing in Denver District Court.

Manzanares, 50, had been charged with the theft of a computer from Denver District Court, embezzlement of public property, tampering with physical evidence and first-degree official misconduct.

Manzanares, who served as a judge in both Denver county and district courts before being named Denver city attorney, committed suicide last Friday.

Senior District Court Judge Gaspar Perricone granted a motion by Mark Pautler, senior chief deputy district attorney in Jefferson County, that requested the court “dismiss this action and temporary gag order on the grounds that the defendant is deceased.”

Perricone agreed to lift the gag order over the objections of Manzanares’ attorney, Gary Lozow. Lozow had asked Perricone to keep the gag order in place until Monday, saying he feared that the Jefferson County DA’s office would comment on the case prior to Manzanares’ funeral today.

Lozow said that he did not want the Manzanares family to be drawn into a debate or colloquy with prosecutors during the time that they were mourning the loss of Manzanares.

During the hearing, Lozow said he was honored to be Manzanares’ lawyer.

“It was my privilege to represent Mr. Manzanares,” Lozow said.

After the hearing, Pautler said the Jefferson County DA’s office would not be commenting on the case and left the courtroom without saying anything more.

During the proceeding, Perricone was given a document signed by Denver Chief Deputy Coroner Michelle D. Weiss-Samaras stating that Manzanares died at Eisenhower Park at 7:12 p.m. June 22 and that an autopsy had been performed. The cause of death was not released.

Perricone said he wanted to take note of the certification prior to dismissing the case and lifting the gag order.

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